Middle-aged women who are tired, feel a lot of heat, and sweat a lot even though they did not overdo it often suspect ‘menopausal syndrome’. However, it is better to get an accurate test because it may be ‘hyperthyroidism’ in which the thyroid hormone is excessively secreted, not the menopause syndrome.
The thyroid gland is involved in energy metabolism in our body.
The thyroid gland is an endocrine organ located just below the protrusion of the neck, and has the shape of a butterfly with its wings spread out. Thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland promotes metabolic function and ensures that all organs and organs in the body function properly. Therefore, when there is an abnormality in the thyroid gland and the balance of thyroid hormones is disturbed, various symptoms appear in all organs of the human body. For this reason, it is often confused with other diseases.
Thyroid abnormalities are more common in women. According to a survey conducted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2019, thyroid-related diseases were 4.5 times higher in women than in men. As to why thyroid dysfunction is more common in women, experts explain that “it has a lot to do with female hormones.” This is because female hormones play an important role in regulating various functions of thyroid cells. Women are also vulnerable to thyroid disease, but if the thyroid gland has problems, it is even more fatal because problems such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and osteoporosis are linked. Therefore, early detection is of utmost importance.
If you can’t stand the heat, fatigue increases, and the neck area swells, you should be suspicious.
Thyroid hormone promotes the body’s metabolism and consumes energy continuously, so if it is over-secreted, you sweat a lot, you can’t stand the heat, and you drink a lot of water. Overall, fatigue increases, appetite increases and the amount of food eaten increases, but energy consumption also increases and weight decreases. Also, many patients develop goiter, a swelling of the entire neck. In addition, various symptoms may appear throughout the body, such as easily agitated and sensitive, poor concentration, diarrhea, myasthenia gravis, itchy skin, irregular menstruation or amenorrhea.
Prevention and early detection are important
Thyroid-related diseases can cause various complications if left unattended, and treatment to control thyroid hormones takes a long time, so it is better to prevent them in advance. In the Hidak column, Dr. Lee Joo-hyeon (Gangnam Beautiful Breast Surgery), a surgical consultant at Hidak, said, “To prevent hyperthyroidism, it is necessary to maintain a regular lifestyle while managing smoking, drinking, and stress, and to develop stamina and immunity through regular exercise. It’s good,” he explained. In addition, he emphasized the importance of screening, saying, “The best prevention method is to manage it through regular thyroid checkups.” If you have a family history of thyroid disease, it is recommended to have regular check-ups.
Help = Hidak Consulting Doctor Lee Joo-hyeon (Gangnam Beautiful Breast Surgery Specialist)